There are so many spices and herbs that make the magic when we are cooking. It can be daunting to have everything on hand. There are several places on the internet you can find “substitutes” when you may not have the exact spice or herb that’s called for in a recipe.

Here, I’ll share some of my favorite blends and tell you why I think they add so much to the flavor.

GSB Kicker

One blend that I use almost every day is a mix of Garlic Powder, Salt, and Black Pepper, GSB Kicker. I got this recipe from Paula Dean and I like the convenience of having these three spices already mixed in a proportion that works for my tastes.

1 – C Salt

1/2 – C Garlic Powder

1/2 – C Black Pepper

Mix them together and keep some in a handy shaker spice jar. I keep the bulk in an air tight container and replenish what I use from the shaker. This usually last me 4 to 6 months.

Steak Seasoning

I know. There are hundreds, if not thousands of steak seasoning and everyone says they have found the absolute best steak seasoning you can find, anywhere in the world, bar none, cross my heart and hope to die! For that person, I’m sure the claim is 100% true. Not sure how to claim that myself, other than to say, according to my palate, this is among the top three or four steak seasonings I’ve used over the years. It always depends on my mood, what I have a craving for and what I’m having with my steak.

Having said all this, I’ll just say that I love the Mitchell Street Steak Seasoning from Penzeys. It has a slightly smokey flavor, combining more than 10 different ingredients to enhance, not overpower the natural flavor of that delicious steak you’re about to dive into. Penzeys has a few brick and mortar stores, but we are not lucky enough to have one here in Hickory. Luckily, they have great website, if you want to check it out. Try https://www.penzeys.com/

I’ll be sharing an even better steak rub soon. Yes, this is a tease, but I wanted to share this one first, especially since warm weather is starting to poke up in some spots and folks are starting to fire up the grills soon.